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About the Berklee Performance Center

Located in the historic Back Bay, the Berklee Performance Center (BPC) is at the core of Boston's entertainment and cultural community. Many excellent restaurants and hotels, as well as the Prudential Center, Fenway Park, and the Hynes Convention Center, are within walking distance.

Showcasing over 200 events each year, the BPC may just be the busiest theatre in Boston, and it is certainly the most unique. Owned and operated by Berklee College of Music, the BPC hosts concerts by talented students, faculty, and visiting artists, as well as a wide variety of productions presented by outside promoters, arts presenters, and community organizations. Events at the BPC span every musical genre and represent a broad range of countries and cultures, from traditional artists to contemporary innovators defining the future of music.

The center contains 1,215 seats, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, and a full range of multimedia capabilities. Its relationship with Berklee College of Music affords professional quality recording of events and concerts.

The Berklee Performance Center houses a fully automated box office, which includes an extensive network that ensures easy access to tickets. The box office is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

To book an event or to obtain additional venue information, contact the director of Concert Operations at bpc@berklee.edu. For information on upcoming events, visit our Events Calendar or contact the box office at 617 747-2261.

History

When Lawrence Berk purchased the former Hotel Bostonian at 1140 Boylston Street in 1965, he expected that it would adequately house the college for many years to come. But as enrollment swelled from 584 in 1966 to 1,707 in 1972, the 80,000 square-foot building could not meet the college's space and facility needs, chief among them the need for a concert hall.

So when the Bryant and Stratton School offered the former Sherry Biltmore Hotel at 150 Massachusetts Avenue and the adjoining Fenway Theatre for sale in 1972, the Berklee administration and the Board of Trustees looked at the opportunity to acquire the property with a mixture of hope and anxiety. Purchase of the 240,000 square-foot hotel and the 37,500 square-foot theater at one stroke solved many of the college’s emerging space needs.

The marvelous 1915 movie palace, created by theater designer Thomas Lamb, was completely modernized, the stage was enlarged and an acoustic ceiling installed. Recording studios, and ensemble and rehearsals studios were built below stage level.

The renovated theater was rechristened the Berklee Performance Center and grand opening ceremonies took place on April 5, 1976. In his dedication address, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis called the new 1,227-seat facility "an outstanding contribution to the cultural resources of the city and state."

Since 1976, as Berklee courses and majors diversified, the Performance Center has provided a laboratory for student performers, producers, and recording engineers. "We see the Performance Center as a giant classroom where people can learn about performing and the technical side of presenting a show," says Rob Rose.